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HARVEST Fling set to add some Scottish flavor on Saturday

Posted by Ken Grabowski on October 31st, 2017

MANISTEE – Traveling to a foreign country to get the flavor and spirit of that area is always an adventure that people love to experience.

Volunteers were busy Tuesday morning putting together decorations for Saturday’s HARVEST Fling at Manistee Catholic Central. The annual event is the biggest fundraiser of the year at the school.(Ken Grabowski/News Advocate)

Having the opportunity to get the flavor and spirit of a foreign land without ever leaving Manistee is something that is priceless as well. On Saturday evening those attending the Manistee Catholic Central HARVEST Fling’s “A night in the Celtic Highlands” will feel like they are visiting Scotland.

Saturday’s fun begins at 5 p.m. with the social hour and silent auction followed at 6 p.m. by a dinner that will feature traditional favorites mixed in with some Scottish dishes. The food again is being catered by Dan Kelly from Williamsburg who has done previous HARVEST events. The rest of the evening will include live auctions, music and dancing.

HARVEST chair Samantha McLinden said crews are busy transforming the Manistee Catholic Central cafeteria and gymnasium into something of beauty that will not even resemble a school when they are finished.

“Everything is coming together real well,” said McLinden. “We have had a lot of help.”

Decorations director Jenny Howes said it has been a real team effort to get everything ready for the big night.

“The parents and volunteers that have come up from the community have really been working hard,” said Howes. “They have gone above and beyond what we have expected. All our ideas are coming together and people are going to be excited about what they see.”

For the past three decades the theme changes every year and McLinden said people are wondering what they are going to be featuring with the Celtic Highlands.

“I think a lot of people are curious about the theme and what we are going to be doing with it,” said McLinden. “So as soon as they walk up to the school they are going to see a transformation. We are going to do some building out front and that is something we haven’t done in a few years, so those who have been here in the past will remember those things.”

Howes said the dads who have worked on the gym have gone above and beyond in putting in extra hours.

“The focal point is always the gym and a lot of them have been working their jobs during the day for eight to 12 hours and then coming here and putting in extra time,” said Howes.

McLinden said that is what makes the HARVEST event so special every year as it is a team effort from start to finish to be a success. And the one thing they never lose focus over is the students who are the ones benefitting from the funds that are raised.

“There are people here working on decorations and some are getting items and bringing donations here and all of them are helping in some form,” said McLinden.

Every year the business community has also been extremely generous in what they donate to make the overall event a success.

“A lot of businesses have donated or discounted our decorating and building supplies, which helps a lot,” said Howes.

McLinden said that is greatly appreciated by the committee.

“We are trying to make it look good for not a lot of money, so it really helps when people give us donations for what we need,” she said.

Without giving away too many of the secrets on what to expect, Howes said those attending Saturday evening will have the feel of being in a castle in the Celtic Highlands.

“One of the students came up with the idea of doing a triple Celtic knot to depict the three decades that we have held the HARVEST,” said Howes. “You are really going to feel immersed in the Scottish culture that night.”

McLinden said every year they encourage people to dress for the theme and they are hoping this year some of the men will don kilts for that night.

“We always encourage people to dress up for the event and they have done that a lot in the past for events,” said McLinden.

Although they have already passed last year’s attendance in tickets sold, McLinden said they still have room for those who would like to attend and some raffle tickets. She said if people call Manistee Catholic Central at (231) 723-2529 they can obtain more details or tickets.

Posted by Ken Grabowski

Ken is News Advocate’s education reporter. He coordinates coverage for all Manistee County schools and West Shore Community College. He can be reached by phone at (231) 398-3125 or by email at kgrabowski@pioneergroup.com.